Varied carpet beetle

Homes, museums, upholstered furniture, carpets, and stored natural-fiber materials; adults often occur on flowers outdoors.

Larvae feed on wool, fur, feathers, silk, hair, dead insects, and other keratin-rich debris. Adults mainly consume nectar and pollen.

Larvae are hairy, concealed scavengers and may persist for months to years; they molt repeatedly and leave shed skins. Adults are short-lived and commonly enter buildings through windows.

Larvae can damage carpets, clothing, upholstery, and taxidermy, and their hairs may irritate skin or airways. They also recycle animal debris and assist decomposition outdoors.